updated 04:20 pm EDT, Mon April 6, 2009

Camera on iPod touch?

Apple may be planning to introduce cameras to iPod touches as well as iPhones, a recent job listing suggests. In March the company posted an opening for a "camera project manager," to work full-time in Apple's home city of Cupertino, California. While the position would nominally exist under the iPhone Engineering Group, a recent version of the description called for a "Camera Engineering Project Manager to drive the design, development and integration of camera modules across iPhone and iPod."

The listing has since been amended to remove any reference to iPods, although it is unknown if this is because the reference was mistaken or genuinely premature. Apple is however said to have ordered five-megapixel camera sensors for a product shipping later this year, which could coincide with the company's usual introduction of new iPods in September. If given a camera the Touch would become less distinguishable from the iPhone, but would also become more easily distanced from competing media players.

The player is has also believed to be gaining 802.11n Wi-Fi, and possibly video editing and recording capabilities, in keeping with the tendency of firmware to propagate between Apple handhelds. The Touch could thus evolve into a more robust multi-function device, beyond existing web, gaming, audio recording and general-purpose software components.

I'm sure most of the competing companies would laugh at that idea. Putting a camera into a media player. They'll say that such a feature isn't needed in a media player. The new Nintendo DSi gaming device already has two built-in cameras.

Well, as long as the device has WiFi, there's no reason not to have a camera in an iPod. It will be just as good for taking photos and uploading them to the internet. Plus, it will give more versatility to the iPod Touch. I hope it works out for Apple. People are going to be buying the next iPod Touch in droves if it has a faster graphics chip in it.

And if they want to add versatility to the iPod touch, they could (a) add Bluetooth headphone/headset capability, so people can finally use wireless headphones (since the iPhone will (FINALLY!) get this feature in OS v3) and headsets (Skype your way to not needing an iPhone).

(b) allow it to read/write files, like all other ipods

(c) add a GPS, which more people would end up using then some camera

(d) Remove the "gots to go through the AppStore so we can keep our revenue streams coming in!" requirement, so we can actually get software for the iPhone we want, not just what Apple wants us to have.

normally adding a camera is old technology, so I doubt it would make a big splash, but maybe a video camera would make a bigger splash on the iPod, and in the new iPhone, too. Of course, making it have two cameras so it can shoot towards and away from you and making it cost effective is Apple's challenge.

is anyone as tired as I am with the turtle dude.... testudo.... seriously, stfu.... why come here day after day and give your short-sighted view on everything Mac... you seem to want to offer a conflicting opinion "just because". If you can do better then stop bitching in an online forum and do something... you don't like Apple's direction, then build you own company and compete... no company will ever be perfect, accept that and enjoy what is offered... Testudo, I'm simply sick of you. Go away. Good night.